14 U.S. Code § 88 - Saving life and property

(a)In order to render aid to distressed persons, vessels, and aircraft on and under the high seas and on and under the waters over which the United States has jurisdiction and in order to render aid to persons and property imperiled by flood, the Coast Guard may:

(1)perform any and all acts necessary to rescue and aid persons and protect and save property;

(2)take charge of and protect all property saved from marine or aircraft disasters, or floods, at which the Coast Guard is present, until such property is claimed by persons legally authorized to receive it or until otherwise disposed of in accordance with law or applicable regulations, and care for bodies of those who may have perished in such catastrophes;

(3)furnish clothing, food, lodging, medicines, and other necessary supplies and services to persons succored by the Coast Guard; and

(4)destroy or tow into port sunken or floating dangers to navigation.

(b)

(1)Subject to paragraph (2), the Coast Guard may render aid to persons and protect and save property at any time and at any place at which Coast Guard facilities and personnel are available and can be effectively utilized.

(2)The Commandant shall make full use of all available and qualified resources, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary and individuals licensed by the Secretary pursuant to section
8904(b) of title
46, United States Code, in rendering aid under this subsection in nonemergency cases.

(c)An individual who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed is—

(1)guilty of a class D felony;

(2)subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000; and

(3)liable for all costs the Coast Guard incurs as a result of the individual’s action.

(d)The Secretary shall establish a helicopter rescue swimming program for the purpose of training selected Coast Guard personnel in rescue swimming skills, which may include rescue diver training.

(e)An individual who knowingly and willfully operates a device with the intention of interfering with the broadcast or reception of a radio, microwave, or other signal (including a signal from a global positioning system) transmitted, retransmitted, or augmented by the Coast Guard for the purpose of maritime safety is—

(1)guilty of a class E felony; and

(2)subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per day for each violation.

This section broadens existing law in that it authorizes the Coast Guard to engage in saving life and property in the broadest possible terms, without limitation as to place. This section reflects existing sentiment as to Coast Guard functions in relation to saving life and property. There is no intention to supersede or conflict with the present authority of the Civil Aeronautics Board to investigate certain aircraft wrecks. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.

1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–278substituted “on and under the high seas and on and under the waters” for “on the high seas and on waters” in introductory text.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections
468(b),
551(d),
552(d), and
557 of Title
6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section
542 of Title
6.

“(a) Report.—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall prepare a status report on the modernization of the National Distress and Response System and transmit the report, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 25, 2002] and annually thereafter until completion of the project, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.

“(b) Contents.—The report required by subsection (a) shall—

“(1) set forth the scope of the modernization, the schedule for completion of the System, and information on progress in meeting the schedule and on any anticipated delays;

“(2) specify the funding expended to-date on the System, the funding required to complete the System, and the purposes for which the funds were or will be expended;

“(3) describe and map the existing public and private communications coverage throughout the waters of the coastal and internal regions of the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Caribbean, and identify locations that possess direction-finding, asset-tracking communications, and digital selective calling service;

“(4) identify areas of high risk to boaters and Coast Guard personnel due to communications gaps;

“(5) specify steps taken by the Secretary to fill existing gaps in coverage, including obtaining direction-finding equipment, digital recording systems, asset-tracking communications, use of commercial VHF services, and digital selective calling services that meet or exceed Global Maritime Distress and Safety System requirements adopted under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea [see 33 U.S.C. 1602 and s thereunder];

“(6) identify the number of VHF–FM radios equipped with digital selective calling sold to United States boaters;

“(7) list all reported marine accidents, casualties, and fatalities occurring in areas with existing communications gaps or failures, including incidents associated with gaps in VHF–FM coverage or digital selected calling capabilities and failures associated with inadequate communications equipment aboard the involved vessels during calendar years 1997 and thereafter;

“(8) identify existing systems available to close all identified marine safety gaps before January 1, 2003, including expeditious receipt and response by appropriate Coast Guard operations centers to VHF–FM digital selective calling distress signal; and

“(9) identify actions taken to-date to implement the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board in its Report No. MAR–99–01.”